NOT TOO WARM FOR THESE POLAR BEARS

January 2, 2016 -- Undeterred by the sign warning "BEACH OFFICIALLY CLOSED - BATHING PROHIBITED," and with the air temperature hovering just above 40, the wind chill close to freezing and the sea temperature a balmy 50 (8 degrees warmer than last year!), more than a dozen brave souls, all seemingly of sound mind, sprinted from the Sea Cliff Beach pavilion and plunged into Hempstead Harbor on Friday afternoon where they frolicked briefly, before sprinting back ashore. Sea Cliff resident Charlie Weinstein has organized the New Year's Day ritual for about 20 years now.

"The Polar Bear Plunge was a crazy, ridiculous thing to do (I was reminded of this by several people beforehand). I'd never even considered doing one before. - Joe Hughs